It was a week-long battle. 
A battle it was, just in name, it was basically a massacre. 
The moment we stepped inside those lands the day turned into darkness. 
It was nothing like the empty lands that we had visited. It was, as if, they were waiting for us with armed hands. 
" Spread out. Look for the other packs. "
I could hear Ryan yell out the orders as a terrible blizzard suddenly came at our direction. 
We could tell it wasn't a natural phenomenon. 
The blizzard was accompanied with several ghastly apparitions. Each threatning one, with an different terror. 
It was as if we had stepped inside a mirage of madness. It was becoming difficult to tell fake from real.
In the middle of that madness our days went by. Bodies fell here and there. It would have been easy for those minions of darkness to get rid of all of us but they chose meticulously, whom to kill and whom to play with. 
My eyes had been fixed on Ryan, at least I had been trying. 
Finally when the dark fog settled, I ran to him. 
" Are you alright? "
I tried checking him with my hands and arms. He grabbed my wrists between his fists, kissed them and slowly turned me around. 
" I am alright but nothing is alright here. "
There lay the bodies of two of the three Alphas, who were aiding us in the raid. 
What followed were an array of allegations and revolts. 
I , in particular was accused of trying to usurp power by sweet talking each pack head. 
It didn't bother me much but it was necessary that I, along with Ryan, took over those packs in the absence of a strong leader, amidst all the chaos. Our intention was never to annex their lands. We were but caretakers. 
A few packs, left the All Alpha counsel but their revolt was short lived. Their packs were mauled to extinction over night. Many of their wounded, took refuge under mine and Ryan's wings. Even after all these, we were the ones accused of conspiring with the Northern Chief. 
The attacks of the Grey Hound Wolves became more common. There were sightings of Shadowy armies accompanying those hounds as well. 
While fighting and defeating them repeatedly, we found that the Northern chief used his dark magic to transform humans into werewolves, which made them mutilate to catastrophic results. The Grey Hound Wolves might just be such an abomination. The dark army of the undead was not his only strength. He had been hard at work, putting together an army of abominations, that he had been creating and collecting. 
Days passed with such rhythm. I did not care. 
Leadership, came naturally to me along with the responsibility of its challenges. 
And with Ryan beside me, it all felt like it was meant to be. 
Though there was that longing. There was a mourning in my heart even in the midst of all that was happening. 
" Let's go for a walk, shall we? " Ryan would often say, offering his hand to me. Which I wanted to take but didn't. We would walk for hours in the open field, talking about this and that, state affairs and the sky and the birds. We would talk about everything except the state of our hearts. 
Then one fine day, while we were , thus strolling in the garden, Midnight came running, looking for me. 
" Alpha Tristan stirred Alpha Sherizad. He has been calling your name. "
We ran as soon as we received the news. 
I didn't know whether I should have been happy or sad. 
With Tristan back from his coma, things were going to get much more awkward. 
My feet stopped automatically as I saw him sitting up and sipping from his warm medicine bowl. 
He smiled as soon as he saw me. 
" Sherizad. How long have I been out? "
I took a deep breath and slowly walked towards him. 
" Come on, Sit down beside me. " He patted the spot on his bed and I obediently compiled. 
I looked at the door. Ryan was right behind me but he didn't come through the door. 
I turned my attention towards Tristan. 
There was something in his eyes, which seemed like it was off. 
Then suddenly he grabbed my neck and pulled me into a hard embrace. Which was very very odd for the dynamics that we had. Was he trying to claim me as is wife? 
It wasn't like he was trying to do anything that wasn't right but it made me feel very very uncomfortable. 
" I have some matters of the state that I need to attend Tristan. Chiefs from your pack have been very worried. I must send them in to have a word with yourself. "
I broke off from his embrace in a hurry and quickly stood up and bowed. 
" Matter of the state you say Sherizad? I can sense the Alpha mark on your back. Seems like I missed out on a lot of things, would you care to fill me in tonight? "
I gulped but I nodded. 
" Surely, I will. " I bowed and went straight to my own room. 
I closed my eyes for the split of a moment when suddenly I felt a ghastly presence in my room. 
I had purposely blown off all the lights in my room. I wanted to be alone but this thing was right in front of me and I could feel it's horrible presence. 
" Who are you? What do you want? "
I asked, pulling my dagger out. 
" I believe that you might be interested in negotiating with the Northern Chief."
I was right. It was one of his dark minions. But what was his purpose of sending his minion to me? He could have easily gotten rid of me in the battlefield but je didn't. 
Would it be wrong for me to guess that he needed something from me? 
Did he want to use me to torture Ryan like his uncle mentioned? 
What a horrible fate Ryan and the Northern Chief shared. 
I wished I could do something to make their suffering end.